IMMIGRATION IN AN AGING SOCIETY: DEMOGRAPHIC SHIFTS AND THE ROLE OF FOREIGN RESIDENTS IN CONTEMPORARY JAPAN

Elif Sercen Nurcan

Research Article

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Japan National Police Agency. (2025, June 30). Gaikoku no unten menkyo o o-mochi no kata [Foreign driver’s license holders]. Japan National Police Agency. https://www.npa.go.jp/policies/application/license_renewal/have_DL_issed_another_country.html
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IMMIGRATION IN AN AGING SOCIETY: DEMOGRAPHIC SHIFTS AND THE ROLE OF FOREIGN RESIDENTS IN CONTEMPORARY JAPAN

Year 2025, Volume: 9 Issue: 3, 64 - 91, 17.10.2025

Elif Sercen Nurcan

Abstract

This paper examines the evolving role of foreign residents in Japan against the backdrop of demographic decline and economic transformation. As the foreign population surpassed 3.7 million in 2024, immigration has shifted from a peripheral concern to a critical pillar of Japan’s policy response to labor shortages and an aging society. The study asks two central questions: What demographic patterns and institutional structures define the current landscape of foreign residency in Japan, and how do these differ from the experiences of other aging societies? To address these questions, the paper employs a qualitative analysis of government statistics, recent legal reforms, and a wide range of scholarly literature. It traces changes in visa categories, demographic patterns, and institutional frameworks over the last two decades, highlighting the growing contributions of foreign workers and international students to the Japanese economy and society. At the same time, it identifies persistent barriers to integration, including limited access to public services, visa overstays, and discriminatory narratives that continue to influence policymaking. Despite new initiatives such as the Specified Skilled Worker visa, J-FIND program, and Highly Skilled Professional schemes, Japan’s immigration regime remains fragmented. The paper argues that foreign residents are no longer marginal actors but central to Japan’s long-term sustainability. Its originality lies in positioning Japan’s demographic crisis within a comparative context while stressing the importance of inclusive citizenship policies for shaping a more equitable future.

Keywords

Immigration policy , foreign workforce , aging society , integration challenges , Japan demographics

References

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YAŞLANAN BİR TOPLUMDA GÖÇ: DEMOGRAFİK DÖNÜŞÜMLER VE GÜNÜMÜZ JAPONYA’SINDA YABANCILARIN ROLÜ

Year 2025, Volume: 9 Issue: 3, 64 - 91, 17.10.2025

Elif Sercen Nurcan

Abstract

Bu makale, Japonya’daki yabancı ikamet sahiplerinin değişen rolünü, demografik gerileme ve ekonomik dönüşüm bağlamında incelemektedir. 2024 yılı itibarıyla yabancı nüfusun 3,7 milyonu aşmasıyla birlikte, göç olgusu marjinal bir konu olmaktan çıkarak, Japonya’nın yaşlanan toplum ve işgücü açığına yönelik politikasının temel dayanaklarından biri haline gelmiştir. Çalışma şu sorulara odaklanmaktadır: Japonya’daki yabancı ikamet düzenini belirleyen demografik eğilimler ve kurumsal yapılar nelerdir, ve bu durum diğer yaşlanan toplumların deneyimlerinden hangi yönleriyle farklıdır? Bu soruları yanıtlamak için devlet istatistikleri, güncel yasal reformlar ve akademik literatürün nitel analizi kullanılmaktadır. Son yirmi yıldaki vize kategorilerindeki değişimler, demografik örüntüler ve kurumsal çerçeveler takip edilerek, yabancı işçiler ile uluslararası öğrencilerin Japon ekonomisine ve toplumuna artan katkıları vurgulanmaktadır. Bununla birlikte, kamu hizmetlerine sınırlı erişim, vize aşımları ve ayrımcı söylemler gibi kalıcı bütünleşme engelleri de ortaya konulmaktadır. “Belirli Nitelikli İşçi” vizesi, J-FIND programı ve “Yüksek Nitelikli Profesyonel” düzenlemeleri gibi reform adımlarına rağmen, Japonya’nın göç rejimi hâlâ parçalı bir yapı göstermektedir. Makale, yabancı ikamet sahiplerinin artık marjinal aktörler değil, Japonya’nın gelecekteki sürdürülebilirliği açısından merkezi bir konuma sahip olduklarını ileri sürmektedir. Bu yönüyle çalışma, Japonya’nın demografik krizini karşılaştırmalı bir çerçevede ele alarak, kapsayıcı vatandaşlık politikalarının adil bir gelecek için önemini vurgulaması bakımından özgün katkı sunmaktadır.

Keywords

Göç Politikası , Yabancı İşgücü , Yaşlanan Toplum , Uyum Zorlukları , Japonya Demografisi

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Details

Primary Language	English
Subjects	Sociology (Other), Migration History
Journal Section	Research Article
Authors	Elif Sercen Nurcan 0000-0002-7104-0283
Early Pub Date	October 12, 2025
Publication Date	October 17, 2025
Submission Date	June 30, 2025
Acceptance Date	September 15, 2025
Published in Issue	Year 2025 Volume: 9 Issue: 3

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APA	Nurcan, E. S. (2025). IMMIGRATION IN AN AGING SOCIETY: DEMOGRAPHIC SHIFTS AND THE ROLE OF FOREIGN RESIDENTS IN CONTEMPORARY JAPAN. Uluslararası Toplumsal Bilimler Dergisi, 9(3), 64-91.

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